With just a few ingredients, Butter Cookies Recipe comes together quickly for a tasty and gorgeous treat.  Butter cookies are pretty enough for a cookie exchange but easy enough to make any day of the week.

2 butter cookies dipped in chocolate frosting and topped with chocolate sprinkles.
Want to save this recipe?

Butter Cookies are so delicious, and they melt in your mouth. They are easy to make into designs and shapes. Everyone will think you spent a ton of time on this cookie recipe when really it was easy!

Try making plain butter cookies or jazz things up with icing and sprinkles. However you decide to make these, they are going to impress your friends and family!

I also make Cookie Butter Cheesecake, Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies and Coffee Cake Cookies for a delicious dessert.

Why We Love This Recipe

This recipe makes it simple to enjoy bakery quality cookies at home. With a few very simple steps and ingredients, anyone can enjoy these at home. You will love the taste and texture.

The cookies look so pretty and taste delicious.

Butter cookies stacked on top of each other on a white plate.

Ingredients

  • unsalted butter – Softened at room temperature
  • egg yolks. You only need the yolks for this recipe.
  • vanilla extract – You can use almond extract if you prefer, but I love vanilla in this recipe.
  • all-purpose flour– It’s best to spoon the flour into the measuring cup instead of scooping it.
  • milk – You can use what you prefer but I like whole milk in the cookies.

Get the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.

How to Make Butter Cookies

Cookie dough combined in a bowl.

Step 1. Combine the butter, sugar and salt. I used my stand mixer. Then mix in the egg and vanilla. Add the flour and mix until crumbly then add in milk. You may need to add in a little more milk to the dough if it’s too thick. Make sure to add as little as possible so that the cookies do not spread.

Cookie dough piped on a baking sheet.

Step 2. Place the dough into a piping bag with a large open star tip. Then pipe the dough onto two ungreased baking sheets.

  • Step 3. Bake the cookies until golden brown on bottom. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Butter cookies cooling on a wire rack.

Storage

Store these cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days. You can also keep a piece of white bread in the container with the cookies to keep them soft.

You can also learn How to Freeze Cookie Dough.

FAQs

Do you have to chill the dough?

If you normally have issues with cookies spreading, try chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking.

Are butter cookies the same as shortbread?

No, butter cookies are not the same as shortbread cookies. The main difference between the two is the amount of sugar and the baking temperature. Butter cookies have more sugar and bake at a higher temperature than shortbread cookies.

What’s the best butter to use?

Unsalted butter is best for baking cookies. This allows the baker to easily control the amount of salt in the recipe.

It is easy to grab the wrong one at the store so definitely grab the unsalted version.

How to soften butter quickly?

Most cookie recipes call for softened butter. However, I often forget to allow the butter to soften on the counter.

If you need to soften butter quickly, you can try this handy trick. Place water in a microwave safe bowl. This bowl should be large enough to fit over the butter.

Microwave the water for about 2 minutes or until the water is very hot. Pour out the water and then place the bowl over the butter.
The heat that remains in the bowl will soften the butter quickly.

What are Butter Cookies?

Butter cookies originate in Denmark and sometimes are called Danish biscuits. They are delicious cookies made from butter, flour and sugar.

They are a classic basic cookie that are soft and delicious!

What’s the difference between sugar and butter cookies?

While these cookies are similar there are several big differences. The main difference being the amount of sugar.

Butter cookies call for more sugar. Also, the temperature the cookies are baked at is different as well.

The cookies have different textures. Sugar cookies have a sturdier dough, whereas, butter cookies are generally softer.

Can you freeze Butter Cookies?

Yes, these cookies freeze great. Seal them in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Defrost them out at room temperature and then they are ready to enjoy.

I recommend freezing them before adding any frosting or sprinkles. Then you can easily add these items when you’re ready to enjoy the cookies.

Butter cookies dipped in chocolate frosting and topped with chocolate sprinkles.

Pro Tips

  • Use Baking Liners or Parchment Paper. Clean up is easy and the cookies turn out perfectly every time! You can also use a prepared baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Chill the dough. If you find the dough too sticky, go ahead and chill the dough in the refrigerator first.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. The butter should be softened at room temperature to make it easier to combine. The eggs also need to be room temperature.
  • Don’t over mix. Be careful that you combine the ingredients until just mixed together.

Make this delicious and easy recipe for a fabulous treat. Please leave a comment once you do.

Butter Cookies

4.80 from 10 votes
With just a few ingredients, Butter Cookies Recipe comes together quickly for a tasty and gorgeous treat.  Easy butter cookies are pretty enough for a cookie exchange but easy enough to make any day of the week.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Cool 5 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 133

Ingredients

Want to save this?
Just enter your email and I’ll send it right to you, plus great new recipes weekly!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer cream together butter, sugar and salt until combined.
  • Mix in egg yolks and vanilla.
  • Add flour and mix until crumbly then add in milk (if needed add in another 1 – 2 tsp milk for a more pipe-able consistency, add as little as possible for less spreading though).
  • Transfer to a 16-inch piping bag fitted with a large open star tip (I like this tip https://amzn.to/31kK3rU).
  • Pipe dough into rounds onto two ungreased baking sheets (if you normally have issues with cookies spreading chill them for 30 minutes on baking sheet before baking).
  • Bake one sheet at a time in preheated oven until golden brown on bottom, about 12 – 16 minutes.
  • Let cool on baking sheet 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

You can sprinkle them with sprinkles fresh out of the oven, or you can even dip them into white chocolate or regular chocolate and add sprinkles. Lots of options. If I dip them I just hold them and dip so only half is covered.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 133kcal, Carbohydrates 14g, Protein 1g, Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 37mg, Sodium 26mg, Potassium 15mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 6g, Vitamin A 258IU, Calcium 6mg, Iron 1mg

Pin This Now to Remember It Later

Pin Recipe

Try these other recipes

Share this recipe!

PinYummly

About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

4.80 from 10 votes (9 ratings without comment)

Leave A Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Paula says:

    5 stars
    Love these. Next time I want to add almond flavoring.

  2. Gayle says:

    Can I use this recipe in a cookie press? Thanks @

    1. Carrie says:

      Yes, I think you could.